Buckinghamshire, England

PEDIGREE: This 18th-century neoclassical estate—christened Tyringham Hall—was conceived by the legendary British architect Sir John Soane for financier William Praed. Featuring a semicircular portico and topped by a copper dome, the limestone-clad edifice shelters grand rooms outfitted with ornate woodwork, carved-marble fireplaces, and intricate frescoes.

Photo courtesy Savills

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Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

STATS
8 BEDROOMS
9 BATHS
4 HALF BATHS
15,200 SQ. FT.
$3.7 MILLION

PEDIGREE: Chicago architect Edwin Clark designed this 1928 residence for members of the family that founded the Montgomery Ward retail empire. Modeled after French country manors, the brick home—35 miles west of Milwaukee—retains original interior details like walnut wall panels, crystal chandeliers, and decorative ironwork by local artisan Cyril Colnik.

Casey Key, Florida

STATS
2 BEDROOMS
3.5 BATHS
5,500 SQ. FT.
$9.9 MILLION

PEDIGREE: A striking study in concrete and glass, this 2002 dwelling by architect Toshiko Mori (AD, December 2003) occupies a scenic swath on a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, near Sarasota. Built to withstand the area’s tropical storms, the two-story structure sits above the flood plain on eight pilings.

Photo: Ryan Gamma

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Casey Key, Florida

PROPERTY VALUES: The two-acre plot has a pool plus a historic guesthouse that was formerly used as Coast Guard barracks.

Photo: Ryan Gamma

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Casey Key, Florida

TALKING POINT: Mounted over the staircase is a prismatic sculpture by Mori’s husband, glass guru James Carpenter, that refracts daylight throughout the loftlike interior.

Belvedere Island, California

STATS
5 BEDROOMS
4 BATHS
3 HALF BATHS
7,750 SQ. FT.
$18.8 MILLION

PEDIGREE: Stunningly perched on a cliff overlooking San Francisco Bay, this 1988 residence was created by architect Warren Callister to highlight the spectacular setting, with broad windows that frame panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge and city skyline.

Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s International Realty

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Belvedere Island, California

PROPERTY VALUES: The lush lot (nearly one acre) includes terraced lawns and spacious outdoor living areas.

Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s International Realty

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Belvedere Island, California

TALKING POINT: Callister and the owners chose a custom pink stucco for the exterior, giving it an appealingly timeworn look.

Osterville, Massachusetts

STATS
4 BEDROOMS
2.5 BATHS
3,400 SQ. FT.
$1.3 MILLION

PEDIGREE: In 2005 architect Reed Morrison built this three-story home on Cape Cod for his own family. The traditional clapboard construction (echoed in the detached garage) belies its sleek minimalist interiors, the public spaces of which are arranged in an open plan.

Photo: Tyra Pacheco

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Osterville, Massachusetts

PROPERTY VALUES: Measuring just under an acre, the pastoral parcel blooms with wildflowers in summer.

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Osterville, Massachusetts

TALKING POINT: The house is walking distance from town and a short drive from numerous picturesque inlets and beaches.